New Year's Resolutions aren't for everyone, but I love them. I like that whole reflecting thing. Whether I keep them or not, I love the rush I get as I plan for my great improvements/perfect life that will be mine in 2009. I've done this reflection exercise every year (every year since I've been blogging that is - which means 1 year) and I'm excited to do it again.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I was a tour guide in DC for both my parents and brother and my in-laws. I loved that. I also visited the postal museum, Boston Aquarium, Roosevelt Island, The FDR Memorial, Kayaked the Potomac and drove across the country. I made a pie, became a soccer Mom, saw wild horses on
Assateague Island, visited several church history sites, went to a witches tea party and sewed a quilt (well a wall quilt).
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I know I set some, but I didn't write them down. The only one I do remember... I failed at miserably. I will try again this year and may even write them down.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friends Katie and
Kaelene had babies and my brother and his wife adopted a little baby in June.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No relations - but President
Hinckley died this year and that felt very personal and sad.
5. What countries did you visit? none
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A
penpal. That's the
weirdest thing I've ever wanted, but it is true. Also a vacation with just me and Aaron.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? June 24
th - the day we ended our road trip and arrived in Utah. Sept 27
th - the day we moved into our new place.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Being happy.
9. What was your biggest failure? I wasted too much time. (I said that last year... but it was true again this year.)
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? no
11. What was the best thing you bought? Probably Aaron's GPS. It has been so useful and we loved it in DC and here.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Andrew (he learned to use the potty), C Jane and
NieNie (
bloggers who I don't actually know, but who impress me a lot), Aaron's incredible research paper publications.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Lots of politicians, anti-
mormons, etc.
14. Where did most of your money go? Rent and Aaron's interviews
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Our trip to Ocean City, driving into the Salt Lake Valley, moving into our current place.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? A song called New Soul by
Yael Naim. I don't know why. And Christmas Cookies, because we heard it on Christmas Eve on the way to breakfast for the 3rd year in a row.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer? I think I am about as happy this year as I was last year. I think I feel a little more anxious this year, but just as happy. Same weight as always and definitely poorer than ever before.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish that we'd continued doing fun outings with the kids like we did in DC. I should have turned up the music and danced with my kids more often. I wish I would have listened to Aaron more and tried to understand what he does all day. I wish I would have written in my journal more often and gone to the temple more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I wish I had nagged less and lost my temper less often.
20. Did you fall in love in 2007? Just to be cheesy - I think I've fallen in love with my kids this year.
21. What was your favorite TV program? The Office.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Not really.
23. What was the best book you read? This year I found Shannon Hale and the
Bayern series. I love those books. Mrs. Sharp's Traditions, How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will Too, Last Child in the Woods, Mrs. Mike. Those were a few goodies this year.
24. What was your greatest musical discovery? I started teaching piano lessons this year and remembered how much I love playing the piano. I will call myself my greatest musical discovery not because I'm great (I'm not) just because I lost that love and I found it again.
25. What did you want and get? I wanted to move into this home that I never thought would ever really work out but somehow (thank you Wrights) it did.
26. What did you want and not get? I wanted to take a trip to Palmyra and
Niagara Falls while we were in the East, but it didn't happen.
27. What was your favorite film of this year? Nothing stands out.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29. Aaron got home from an interview in the afternoon and I believe that we went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. I got a sewing machine from my parents and my in-laws.
29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I would like to see my brother get all the good things in life that he deserves. That would make me more happy than I can express.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? I hate this question. I really doubt it'll change even if I have lots of $ - I'm just a Old Navy,
Kohls,
TJ Maxx or whatever is on sale type of girl.
31. What kept you sane? Reading in the bathtub (a lot), prayers, Kaelene Harrison, blogging, living close to family.
Happy 2008!!